Preparation
It is essential when using our products that all surfaces are free from oil, grease, dirt, dust, and loose particles.
On existing painted surfaces remove all loose and flaking paint and thoroughly rub down with abrasive paper. Mould, lichen, algae, or moss should be removed and the surface treated with a suitable fungicidal wash.
Smooth surfaces should be slightly abraded/keyed to aid adhesion.
New or previously finished timber (including denatured, PSE, or freshly planed wood) requires light abrasion. Pressure-treated timber should be weathered for 6 months.
External Galvanised steel should be weathered for a minimum of 2 months, if it is interior then it will need to be degreased with warm soapy water and rinsed or wiped over with methylated spirits. Do not use white spirit or turps substitute.
On metal surfaces we recommend the removal of any areas of rust with a wire brush prior to abrading and/or priming.
Priming
Most of our products are designed to be applied directly without the need for a separate primer. However on porous surfaces such as, untreated wood, weathered wood, new wood, cement render, plaster, brick work or any porous substrate the first coat should be thinned/diluted with 30% clean water to act as a primer coat.
A Stain Block or Metal Primer are suggested in the following circumstances.
| Substrates | Examples | Priming with the following product is advised |
|---|---|---|
| Wood with water soluble extractives |
Some plywood’s Red cedarwood Very resinous timber (For further information on wood see our wood guide section). |
or |
| Ferrous Metals |
Iron Steel |
or |
|
Stained Substrates Remove as much of the stain as possible. The number of coats needed will depend on the nature and severity of the stain. For a more extensive list of substrates please see our ALL PRIME product page. |
Water stains
Smoke and Fire damage Crayon Permanent ink Lipstick Grease Mildew (Apply a fungicidal wash before priming) Mould (Apply a fungicidal wash before priming) Nicotine/Tobacco Asphalt Rust Knots, Sap and Tannin Bleed |
BEDEC ALL PRIME® |
Application
All our products are water-based and therefore should only be applied at air and surface temperatures above 8˚c. The temperature of the environment and surface you are painting needs to stay above this level until the paint has had time to dry. Do not apply if the atmosphere is below the dew point, foggy, or likely to rain before the paint has formed a film.
Application can be by brush, roller, and spray.
Do not paint on substrates with a moisture reading above 18% and avoid surfaces that have had water repellent treatments.
If you are using a brush, we recommend the use of a synthetic brush.
Drying
At a ambient temperature of 18C and relative humidity of 65% our products are normally touch dry within 2 hours and re-coatable after 4 hours. Lower temperatures and/or higher humidity will adversely affect drying time. Super-Flex roof coating will take longer to dry because of the thicker applied film and is usually re-coatable after 4-6 hours ( depending on weather conditions ).
Finishing Up
1. Store Tools Overnight—Skip the Daily Wash
The easiest way to deal with cleaning is to avoid it entirely when you’re just taking a break! If you plan to continue painting with the same colour the next day, there’s absolutely no need for a full wash.
The key to overnight storage is creating an airtight seal to prevent the paint from drying.
• Brushes: Keep the brush saturated with paint. Wrap the bristles and the ferrule (the metal band) tightly in cling film, or a waste packaging plastic bag, securing the seal around the handle with a rubber band or painter’s tape.
• Rollers: Leave a good amount of paint on the roller sleeve, then wrap the entire head in cling film or a clean piece of flexible plastic. For maximum airtight protection, some professionals prefer aluminum foil as it conforms perfectly to the shape of the tool.
2. Clean Up
The most important step, emphasized in guides like those from the British Coatings Federation (BCF), is to remove as much paint as possible before introducing any water. This can reclaim up to 75% of the paint from the brush or roller.
1. Scrape: Gently press the brush bristles against the rim of your paint can or use a brush and roller cleaning tool to scrape paint from the brush or roller.
2. Wipe: Use a scrap piece of newspaper, cardboard, or an old rag to wipe off any remaining surface paint from the brush. For a roller, roll the sleeve on a piece of scrap cardboard or newspaper until it runs dry. This pulls paint from deeper within the fibres.
